The U.S. surgeon general has some tips for parents and teens on social media use

By BARBARA ORTUTAY
AP Technology Writer

Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general, is calling for “immediate action” by tech companies and lawmakers to protect kids’ and adolescents’ mental health on social media. But after years of middling and insufficient action by both social media platforms and policymakers, parents and young people still bear most of the burden. They’re having to navigate the fast-changing, often harmful world of secretive algorithms, addictive apps and extreme and inappropriate content found on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. The surgeon general’s tips include creating “tech-free zones” — such as meal times and nighttime.